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WILKES-BARRE — Last year, the playoffs were the last thing on the mind of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Lukas Bengtsson.

When doctors were finally able to correctly diagnose his POTS syndrome, all he thought about was going home to begin the recovery process in preparation for this season.

He’s had to overcome even more in 2017-18, namely separate injuries that kept him out of the lineup for a total of three months, but the 24-year-old is excited to be healthy and contributing as the Penguins open up Calder Cup competition against the Charlotte Checkers.

“I’m really excited,” Bengtsson said Tuesday at the Toyota SportsPlex. “A playoff is something special, and it’s always a pleasure when your team can go to it. I’m really excited and happy that I’m healed this year, and it’s going to be really fun.”

Bengtsson missed almost all of December and January with a wrist injury, which was especially frustrating after the Stockholm, Sweden native began the season on a tear. He recorded eight assists over his first 11 games, quickly surpassing his point total from 16 games all of last season.

That frustration only intensified when he left the Penguins’ 12-3 loss to Rochester on Feb. 16 and didn’t play in a game again until March 18.

However, Bengtsson seemingly hasn’t lost a step since then. He’s recorded six assists and reestablished himself as one of the Penguins’ six core defensemen.

“It helps to get into the games (late in the season),” Bengtsson said. “Especially when I didn’t have many games last year. It was at least 10 or 15, so it was really good for me to get those games before the playoffs start.”

Bengtsson gives Wilkes-Barre/Scranton an added speed and puckhandling element on the blue line, something that could come in handy if the Penguins need to rally against a Checkers team that scored more often than any other in the AHL.

Beyond postseason implications, these games could also be somewhat of a job audition for Bengtsson. The defenseman’s two-year, entry-level contract with Pittsburgh expires after this season, and reports surfaced in late March that he could return to his home country to play in the SHL.

However, Bengtsson is putting all that talk aside and placing all of his focus into trying to help the Penguins win their first AHL championship.

“I haven’t been thinking about next season,” Bengtsson said. “I just try to play as good as I can, and that’s going to help me for the next season. Thinking about this year, I’m just really excited for the playoffs to start.”

Contact the writer:

tpiccotti@citizensvoice.com;

570-821-2089;

@CVPiccotti on Twitter

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